Jewish life in America was overshadowed this week by the Zionist convention held in Atlantic City, and by the annual meeting of the Central Conference of American Rabbis in Chicago.
It was for the first time that the Central Conference of American Rabbis elected to presidency a rabbi who is a Zionist. It was also for the first time that this Conference of reform rabbis adopted a neutral stand on the Jewish work in Palestine in place of its former attitude of opposition.
The Zionist rabbi who was elected president of the Conference is Dr. Felix A. Levy of Temple Emanu-El in Chicago.
There was an attempt at the Chicago convention to induce the participants not only to give up opposition to Zionism but take an outspokenly pro-Zionist attitude. This attempt was, however, fought by the older members of the Central Conference. The decision on neutrality was reached as a compromise.
GAINED ATTENTION AIRING PUBLIC ISSUES
The Central Conference attracted a good deal of attention not only mong Jews but also among non-Jewish circles in America, because of the many issues which it considered, including the issue of war, of America’s participation in the League of Nations, of socializing certain industries in the United States and of redistribution of capital.
While a resolution “to refuse to support any war in which this country or another country may engage” was rejected by the Conference, the session decided that a special committee be named to formulate the Jewish attitude towards peace in relation to the Jewish view on war in past history. Thus, no definite stand was taken on the war and peace issue. The committee named will report its decision at the next convention.
RABBIS SUPPORT SENATOR NYE’S PROGRAM
While refraining from committing itself definitely on the war issue, the Central Conference recommended that Congress support “without abatement,” the program of the Committee headed by Senator Gerald P. Nye to take the profit not only out of war but also out of the preparations for war. The Conference also went on record as opposing compulsory military training in colleges, universities and high schools.
The question of marriage and divorce occupied a good deal of attention at the meeting. Recommendations were made that the Jewish Rabbinate be trained to guide young people in the problems of marriage and family life. It was specified that courses on the subjects of marriage and family life be given in the temples.
UNIFORM LAWS ON MARRIAGE
A spirited discussion arose at the convention from a suggestion that uniform marriage laws be introduced in all the States. The delegates pointed out that if uniform marriage laws are adopted, uniform divorce laws would also have to be passed.
The Conference, however, adopted the recommendation urging uniform marriage laws, specifically, a seven-day interval between application for marriage license and its issuance, a thorough medical examination by a reputable physician by those contemplating marriage, and the offering of elementary courses in the problems of marriage and the family.
THE ZIONIST CONVENTION AT ATLANTIC CITY
Quite different from the Chicago gathering was the annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America held in Atlantic City. Taking place immediately after the election of delegates to the Zionist Congress this conference was supposed to give expression to the attitude which the Zionists of America would like to adopt with regard to many problems concerning Palestine and, especially, to the problem of the internal friction between the General Zionists and the Laborites.
The discussions at the convention in Atlantic City made it clear that the Zionist movement in America, though supporting the Laborites as labor unions, intends to fight the political ambitions of the Palestine Labor Federation to dominate the entire Zionist movement. Many bitter words were uttered by numerous speakers against those Zionist leaders in America who conducted pro-Histadruth propaganda during the recent elections of delegates to the Zionist Congress. Some of these leaders paid for their pro-Histadruth propaganda by not being elected at the convention as delegates to the World Congress.
ROTHENBERG PRESENTS NEW PLAN OF OPERATION
The main issue at the Zionist convention in Atlantic City revolved around the question of how to enlarge the Zionist ranks in America. Mr. Morris Rothenberg, president of the Zionist Organization of America, rightly pointed out that there is a great sentiment now in the United States for Palestine, but this sentiment is not being properly utilized by the Zionist Organization.
Mr. Rothenberg therefore submitted to the convention a plan to convert the Zionist Organization of America into a body which would unite practically the entire organized Jewry of the United States. He suggested that local committee be formed in 141 cities in the United States, comprising representatives of all the synagogues, temples, Jewish centers and other local organizations willing to participate in the work for Palestine. These local committees would be given representation at the annuad Zionist convention in America. The American Zionist movement would thus have the right to speak not only in the name of a small group of organized Zionist members, but in behalf of practically all of American Jewry.
PLANS TO UNITE ZIONISTS AND NON-ZIONISTS
Mr. Rothenberg also suggested a plan to bring together the Zionists and non-Zionists in America into one united body which would have the right to elect the American representatives to the administrative council of the Jewish Agency and would thus lay a basis for a united body of Zionists and non-Zionists also in other countries.
As a result of recommendations made by Mr. Rothenberg a special committee was appointed at the convention to make sweeping changes in the Zionist Organization of America, after investigating all the details connected with the introduction of these changes.
The convention in Atlantic City also introduced an innovation into the constitution of the Z.O.A. by changing the administration from a Governing Council into an Executive which is to be organized along the same lines as the World Zionist Executive, with some of its members holding portfolios and being responsible to the entire Executive.
CHANGE PRESAGES WIDER PALESTINE CAMPAIGN
This change actually means that the newly elected administration at the convention intends seriously to start on a nationwide campaign to draft as many Jews as possible into active work for Palestine. With the 4,000,000 Jews in the United States there is no reason why the Zionist Organization of America should count only 18,000 members most of whom are—as the recent election of delegates to the Zionist Congress prove— members on paper only.
The question of the barter agreement between Nazi Germany and Palestine was one of the major nine discussed at the Zionist convention. Most of the delegates felt that something should be done to prevent the growth of imports of Nazi goods to Palestine. The convention adopted a resolution urging the American delegates at the Zionist Congress to see to it that the Congress look into the matter and remedy the situation.
The delegates elected by the convention to represent the American Zionist Organization at the next World Zionist Congress received instructions to align themselves with Group “A” of the General Zionists which is supporting Dr. Chaim Weizmann as the forthcoming president of the World Zionist Organization. Mr. Rothenberg was relected president of the American Zionist Organization for another term and Mr. Lipsky, honorary president.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
